| Memories, sweet melodies keep BCA volunteers on board By Jessica Farrish Register-Herald Reporter It has the power to still congregations and rouse nations to war. But music also deigns to serve mere mortals by rewinding time to the middle of a perfect summer, capturing the sweetness of a first kiss, evoking the camaraderie of friendship or recalling in melody the excitement of a wedding day. For Dorothy Hinzman, 84, of Beckley, remembering the music the Beckley Concert Association has brought to the city over the-years takes her back to an era when she was a young mother with three sons at home, and her friend Nell McKenzie asked her to help BCA gain new members. Hinzman served as a BCA volunteer for more than 40 years. "When I used to take my boys to the concerts, that was a nice time," Hinzman recalled. "I had three boys then. "One of them is deceased," she added. "He died when he was 35." "But at that time we had three. The concerts varied from one type to another. They were always good." Since 1938, the nonprofit organization has depended on a network of volunteers to build and maintain a permanent concert audience in Beckley and Raleigh County, to cultivate a community interest in music and provide concerts, recitals and musical theater productions. "The Beckley Concert Association is probably the oldest of the arts organizations in the area and contributes to the community by bringing in world-renowned performers," said Harriet Jones, a member of the BCA board of directors who, along with her husband, Wilmot, has been a member of the Association since 1970. "We try to reach new audiences, especially younger couples with children, by choosing concerts such as the Carter Family group this year. "All people are welcome to attend the concerts. Tickets are available for people who might not be able to attend and who have expressed an interest in a concert." While board members seek new members and audiences, they credit the success of the organization to ' those who, like Hinzman, have volunteered for decades. Vivian Cox, who has taught voice and piano since 1947, said she began selling membership tickets in 1954 as a volunteer. "I have served 50 years because of the enjoyment music brings" said Cox, who has been a BCA board member for two years. "It is my first love. "Music was an important part of board member Lea V. Piper's upbringing. "Having attended operas and concerts from the age of 7 and having been the official pianist for a decade with the San Francisco Ballet, it seemed natural for me to be attracted to the BCA," Piper said. "I was invited to join over 40 years ago when my husband and two young sons moved to Beckley." Piper said she couldn't imagine Beckley without the BCA. "I truly like the fact that I the association includes the youth in its programming by holding workshops in the I Raleigh County schools," she said. "Sometimes there is a spark of talent that can be encouraged or channeled in the right direction." Kathryne Williams doesn't recall exactly when she began volunteering at the BCA. "I found a clipping from a Raleigh Register/Post-Herald dated 1969 which stated: I had been a worker for over 10 years," said Williams, who taught at Sophia High School when the article was written. "To make a long story short, I probably started working in the late '40s or early '50s, give or take a few years." Williams, a retired music teacher, said the association provides an opportunity for young and older people to enjoy a musical experience "that is not duplicated by any other means in the community." Carole Warren-George said she became president of BCA in 1978 and is still excited at the prospect of bringing live, musical performances to the community. "When I first became involved, our concerts were held at the Park Junior High School auditorium," she recalled. "We dreamed of having a wonderful auditorium some day. "That became a reality with the Woodrow Wilson High School auditorium (where concerts are now held)," she added. "BCA provides four or five cultural events a season in a beautiful setting with perfect acoustics and sound system.' Margaret Sayre began volunteering for BCA as a high school student and has been involved since she helped with a membership campaign in 1973 or 1974. "I believe the arts are important to the life of a community,' she said." There are essential needs that have to be met, but beyond that, we all need beauty and stimulation in our lives. "It's part of what makes us human." Hinzman urged everyone to take advantage of the reasonable ticket prices and purchase season memberships. "It is always nice programs, and everybody thinks they're a good bargain," she said. |
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